Indian Navy Dispatches Ships in Response to Pirate Attack off Somali Coast

India has sent its navy to assist a ship that was hijacked off the coast of Somalia. According to reports from Indian media, the vessel has 15 crew members from India on board. The crew contacted a UK marine agency to report that a group of unauthorized armed individuals had boarded the ship near the Somali port town of Eyl on Thursday evening. The Indian navy has communicated with the vessel through a patrol aircraft and confirmed the safety of the crew. The navy also stated that the guided missile destroyer INS Chennai is nearing the vessel to provide assistance, while a naval aircraft is monitoring the situation. Prior to being hijacked, the ship was en route to Bahrain. The crew had initially informed the UK Marine Trade Operations agency that they were hiding in the ship's citadel, which is a secure compartment used for protection in emergencies or potential piracy threats. The recent sporadic attacks on ships off Somalia's coast have raised concerns about a possible resurgence of piracy in the area. From 2008 to 2011, pirate attacks originating from Eyl posed a significant problem for international shipping, prompting countries worldwide to send warships for area patrols.